Device for sealing packages with adhesive tape



April 17, 1951 H. A. SIMPSON EI'AL DEVICE FOR SEALING PACKAGES WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Fiied June 14, 1948 llilllnllrlvlniiilumn ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 DEVICE FOR SEALING PACKAGES WITH ADHESIVE TAPE Henry A. Simpson, Philadelphia, and Samuel F. Mackelduff, Westchester, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Lake Laboratories 00., Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation :of Pennsylvania Application June 14, 1948, Serial No. 32,978

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sealing devices and,

v in particular, to devices adapted to accomplish the application of sealing tape to the seams formed by the abutment or telescopic engagement of the containers and their covers and tops.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a device which of cheap, light and simple construction; which is conveniently manually operable; and which is adapted for ready attachment to floors, tables, etc. in semi-permanent manner by any conventional attaching means such as screws, bolts, clamps, and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a device embodying a stationary table or platform provided with cooperating opposed jaws or stops which are yield-able within predetermined limits and which are adjustable toward and away from one another for the accommodation therebetween of boxes, canisters and other containers of widely varying shapes and dimensions, one of the aforesaid jaws or stops being completely adjustable within predetermined limits with respect to the other, and the other jaw or stop being semi-adjustable or adjustable only in steps of predetermined length.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such structure wherein one of the aforesaid jaws or stops is maintained always at a predetermined angle to the other jaw or stop-member whereby the jaw formed is wider at one side than at the other side to facilitate introduction of containers therebetween from one direction, irrespective of the existing adjustment therebetween.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device wherein the stationary table or platform is provided with antifriction means facilitating movement of containers thereover, into and out of engagement with the jaw.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device which incorporates a substantially L-shaped arm or member having a horizontal portion pivotally connected with a member which supports the abovedescribed table or platform, and having a vertical portion adapted to swing about the table or platform, outside the confines thereof, while carrying a coil or roll of tape, of which a portion is to be attached in suitable manner to a container on the table or platform for sealing the container.

It is a further object of this invention toprovide, in such a device, a tape holder detachably secured on the vertical portion of'thc aforesaid arm or member for adjustment vertically thereon.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the following description, and the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims. V

In the drawing: i

Fig. 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a preferred form of our device, partly in section, showing the parts in operative position to seal the top or cover and the main portion of a container together;

Fig 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig 3 is an isometric view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but with the parts in a slightly different position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating the application of a modified type of anti-friction means to the table of the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of one of the jaw or stop members of the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The illustrative device shown in Figs. l--5 of the drawing comprises a base l0 fixed to the lower end of the spindle I l which has the table or platform 12 pinned or otherwise non-rotatably secured to its other, or upper end.

The base In is adapted for permanent, or semipermanent attachment, by screws, bolts, or other known means to .fioors, table tops, etc. to render the table or platform 12 stationary.

The spindle ll supports the sleeve M for free rotation about its axis, between the base In and the table or platform l2. This sleeve 14 is fixed to the inner end of the horizontal portion I6 of the substantially L-shaped arm or member 15, the aforesaid horizontal portion being of such length that when the arm or member t5 swings about the axis of thespindle I I, the vertical portion I! of the arm or member l5 will swing freely about the table or platform [2, outside the confines thereof. A suitable handle member I8 is frictionally, screw-threadedly or otherwise detachably secured at the upper end of the vertical portion 11 of the arm or member l5 for facilitating manipulation thereof; the readyremovability of the handle 18 facilitating renewal of tape coils or rolls carried by the arm in a manner which will hereinafter appear.

The tape holders 2B are provided, each, with a bore adapted for free sliding engagement with the portion ll of the arm I! and are provided with wing-screws 2i projectible into the aforesaid bores to secure the tape holders 20 in desired vertical position on the portion ll. upper portion of each tape holder 20 :friction- The:

' tated.

ally engages the interior of tape rolls 23 which are disposed thereon and supported by the intermediate flanged portion of the holder 20 which supports the roll 23. While only one tape holder 28 (and roll 23) is shown on the portion I! of the arm I5, it will be understood that a plurality of holders and rolls may be carried, at the same time,'by the portion II.

tubular for lightness of weight since it is adapted to be freely swung about the stationary platform or table I2; If the end of thetape 22 from the coil or roll 23' be manually stuck to'the seam of a container on the table I2 a full revolution of the arm portion I1 about the container and the handle and swinging the arm I substantially one revolution, clockwise as seen in Fig. 2, the tape 22 is progressively engaged with the sides of the main portion 25 and top 250, of the container 24 to cover the seam as shown. If desired, simple moistening means (not shown) may be provided on the arm I5 for progressively moistening the tape where suchis necessary. I

The table or platform I2 is providedwith a jaw which is yieldable to a, predetermined extent for detachably receiving a container and temporarily holding it stationary duringrthe abovedescribed movement 'of the arm member I5; This jaw is formed by a pair of similar members 25 and 28. Each of these members comprises an angle member having a horizontal flange and a vertical flange, the horizontal flange of each being provided with a pair of bolt holes through which a pair of bolts extend.

To accommodate the bolts paired bolt holes 21, equidistant from a radial axis extending through the axis of the spindle II, each pair being spaced from the other at equal distances along this axis as seen in Fig. 2. By means of this arrangement, the jaw member 26 may be adjusted in steps of predetermined distance with respect to the center of the table I2 which coincides with the axis of spindle I I.

To provide for adjustment of the other jaw member 28, the table I2 is provided with a pair of bolt accommodating slots 29 and 38 each equidistant from the extension of the aforesaid axis. While the distance between the bolt holes 2! of each pair, described above, is equal to the spac ing of the bolt holes in the flange of the member 26, the spacing of the'slots 29 and 30 is slightly less than the spacing of the cooperating bolt holes in the flange of the jaw member 28.

Because of the relationship of the spacing of the slots 29 and 30, described above, and the bolt holes in the flange of the member 28, the vertical flange of the member 28 is maintained always outof parallelism with the corresponding flange of the member 26. This insures that the members 26 and 28 form a jaw which is wider at one side (the left as seen in Figs. 1 and 2) than at the other. Thus the entry of containers into the jaw 26, 28 from the left (Figs. 1 and 2) is facili- Because the slots 29 and 30 are more closely spaced than the bolt holes in the. horizontal flange of member 28,'the exertionof spreading force between the jaw members 26 and 28 will result in placing the bolts 29a and 38 in shear whereby the frictionalengagement between these bolts and the outer walls of the slots 29 and 38 resist sliding outward movement, or creep, of the jaw member 28 whether the bolts 29a and 30a be tight or not.

The units 26. and 28 are similar, each comprising an L-se'ction angle member (26 or 28) with an offset spring member 26a or 28a secured 130 the upright portion or flange thereof in any The arm or arm portion I 5 is preferably made suitable manner as by rivets, bolts, or welding (see Fig. 5) These spring members 28a and 28a render the jaw 26, 28 yieldable within a predetermined degree whereby containers within the jaw 28, 28 are held stationary with suflicient firmness to prevent disturbance during attachment of thetape'22 during the operative cycle of the arm member'I5. I

Optionally, the table or platform I2 is provided with antifriction means for facilitating entry of 21a extending 7 through the bolt holes in the flange of the member 26, the table I2 is provided with a series of containers into the jaw 26, 28 irrespective of weight and bulk. This means may comprise rollers 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) arranged as shown, whereby they project upwardly of the surface of the table or platform I2." Alternatively, the

antifriction means may comprise ball members 33 disposed in recesses 34 of such depth that theball members project upwardly above the surface of the stationary table or platform I2.

It is to be noted that the jaw 26, 28 is possessed of resiliency within a predetermined degree, or within predetermined limits, and will accommodate cartons, boxes and containers of widely varying dimensions and, shapes. While we have, for the purpose of illustration, shown a carton of rectangular section, containers of virtually any other section 1. e. round, oval, etc. may be handled by the device with equal convenience and advantage.

The tape holder 20 may be adjusted at any height above the table I2'to accommodate varying container depth, readily and conveniently by releasing the wing nut 2|, moving the holder and then re-tightening the nut 2|.

Furthermore, the containers, etc.'need not be centered on the table or platform I2. The free end of the tape 22 may be applied at a suitable location to the container when the arm I5 is adjacent the nearest jaw member, as 28 (Fig. 2). As the arm travels around platform I2, the free tape portion increases until the arm reaches the jaw member 28. Thereafter, the free tape portion decreases until the arm I! completes thecircuit. From the above description it will clearly appear that we have provided a new and improved container sealing device of extreme simplicity, cheapness, efficiency, and possessed also of other advantages enumerated above which adapt it to use in situations, and under conditions which would not warrant the use of more complicated, expensive, and less flexible sealing devices.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merely illustrative and in no wise V limiting, and that we desire to comprehend withscribed, a stationary base adapted for attach ment to a permanent support, a relatively short spindle fixed to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a substantially horizontal table fixed to said spindle and supported thereby in relatively closely spaced relation above said base,

a substantially L-shaped arm member longer than the radial distances between said spindle and all parts of said table in one horizontally disposed portion, with a substantially vertical upright portion extending upwardly from the outer end of said horizontally disposed portion, a bearing sleeve secured to the inner end of said horizontally disposed portion and supported for free rotation on said spindle for free swinging movement of said horizontally disposed portion between said base and said table and for free swinging movement of said upright portion about said table outside the confines thereof, means adjustable on said upright portion of said arm member for supporting a tape roll at desired distances above said table, and jaw means on said table yieldable within predetermined ranges for detachably holding stationary on said table containers to be sealed with tape from said tape roll.

2. In a sealing device of the character described, a stationary substantially horizontal table, an arm member having an upright portion freely swingable about said stationary table outside the confines thereof, means adjustable on said upright portion of said arm member for supporting a tape roll at desired distances above said table, and jaw means on said table yieldable within predetermined limits for detachably holding stationary on said table containers to be sealed with tape from said tape roll, said jaw means comprising a pair of similar oppositely directed L-section angle members, each of said angle members having a resilient facing on its upright portion forming a jaw surface yieldable to a predetermined extent and having a, pair of 6 predeterminedly spaced bolt holes in the horizontal portion thereof, said table having at one side a plurality of pairs of bolt holes adapted to receive bolts extending through one of said angle members, said pairs of bolt holes being spaced radially of the approximate center of said table, and said table at the opposite side of its approximate center having a pair of slots receiving bolts extending through the bolt holes in the other angle member, said slots being spaced apart a lesser distance than the spacing of the bolt holes in said angle member whereby the upright portion of said last named angle member is angular- 1y disposed with respect to the corresponding portion of the other angle member in all adjustments of said angle members, and whereby the bolts extending through the bolt holes in said last named angle member and said slots are placed in shear by spreading force exerted between said angle members to resist creeping of said last named angle member.

HENRY A. SIMPSON, SAMUEL F. MACKELDUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

